Audi TT a true sports car, and a true Roadster (pictures)
Audi product manager Anthony Garbis calls the third-generation TT model "a true sports car." In convertible form, it's also a true Roadster.
Audi redesigned its TT model heavily for the third generation, building a new car from the ground up while retaining much of the TT's iconic style. The front end takes on some of the styling cues seen in the current generation R8 model.
Audi offers the TT as a coupe and this open-top roadster model. Audi claims the power-operated soft top stows away in just 10 seconds, and can be operated while driving at low speed.
The TT Roadster comes with a 2-liter four-cylinder engine using direct injection and a turbocharger to produce 220 horsepower.
The lack of a hard top meant Audi had to give the TT roadster structural bolstering, creating an overall weight gain of 198 pounds.
Quattro all-wheel-drive, which can push 100 percent of torque to the front or rear wheels, comes standard on the TT Roadster.
Compared to the coupe, the TT Roadster loses 4.5 cubic feet of luggage capacity.
The TT Roadster features LED lighting, including the headlights, standard.
Befitting its place in the market, Audi sells the TT as a premium segment vehicle.
Power adjustable sport seats are comfortable, with reasonably-sized bolsters.
The TT Roadster comes standard with Audi's new Virtual Cockpit design, meaning no head unit or climate controls on the center stack.
Most infotainment functions, including changing the car's drive mode, can be performed with steering wheel-mounted buttons.
Audi moves climate controls to the vents.
A six-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission makes for fast gear changes.
This console-mounted infotainment controller includes a touchpad for tracing alpha-numeric inputs.
The driver can view the main infotainment menu right on the instrument cluster.
Gauges can be shown in large or diminished format, whether speed or navigation is most relevant to the driver.
The innovative infotainment interface lets the driver search for music, contacts or destinations with a simple single field.